New Cover Oregon head Aaron Patnode to make $215,000

PORTLAND — The new director of Cover Oregon will earn a base salary of $215,000 a year.

Aaron Patnode will also be eligible for yearly incentive pay of $32,250 if he meets performance measures set by the Cover Oregon board.

The Oregonian reports (http://bit.ly/1mzMy1O) that Patnode's wage will be $30,000 more than his predecessor's.

Board Chair Liz Baxter says the salary is appropriate and stressed that the salary range was set using a consultant's survey of equivalent positions. She says Patnode is taking on a lot of risk and is leaving a good job to take on the helm at Cover Oregon.

The former Kaiser Permanente manager will lead a troubled health insurance exchange facing an uncertain future, staff departures and multiple investigations.